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(No Model.)

M. H. RYDER.

MACHINE FOR BLOCKING HATS. No. 283,820 Patented Aug. 28, 1883.

i mu 1 N. PEI'Ens. Pnolwumn mr. Walbinglwl. D.C.

Srarne NITE which,

arnnr MARTIN H. RYDER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,820, dated August .28, 1883.

Application filed June 4, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN H. RYDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Blocking Hats 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the manufacture of hats, and has for its object to provide a block ing-machine which willallow the hat to be raised or lowered to be turned, and to be tilted in any direction without change of position 011 the part of the operator.

With these ends in view my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and then specifically designated by the claims.

For the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to make and use my improved device, I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in whic Figure 1 is a side elevation of the working parts of the machine, showing the table in sec tion, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the steamehest, showing the block raised and tilted forward.

Similar letters indicate like parts in both figures of the drawings.

The great obj ection to the blockingmachines now in use has always been that in order to give the workman a view of the hat in different positions while it is undergoing the operation of shaping it has been necessary to lift the block by hand and fasten it up by wedges, or in the most convenient manner possible, much time being lost in lifting and securing the block and in avalking about the machine. My invention overcomes these objections by the use of mechanism which I will now describe.

A is the table, upon which rests the stea1nchest B, to which steam is admitted'and withdrawn by means of the pipes b, one of which is not shown.

0 is the block, which is mounted on the adjustable standard G. This standard is a permanent portion of the machine, and when it 'is desired to block another style of hat it is only necessary to remove one block and set an other upon the standard in its place. In use the block rests upon the top of the steamchest, to which steam is admitted, and the hat while being blocked or shaped is thoroughly heated and softened by heat communicated to the block from the steam-chest.

D is a universal joint, (in the present instance I have shown aball-and-socket joint,) which connects the standard with a vertical rod or shaft, E, which passes down through the steamchest and the table and is connected by a link, F, with a treadle, G, which has its fulcrum in standards G, which are secured to the floor.

The weight of the block and parts working therewith will be quite sufficient to keep the block down upon the steam-chest, which will of course hold the treadle in its raised position. \Vhen it is desired to raise the hat, it is only necessary to press down with the foot on the outer end of the treadle, which will raise the other end, and by means of the link and rod will elevate the standard and block. It should be understood that joint D permits the block to be turned either when raised or resting on the steam-chest WVhen the block is in its elevated position, it will of course tilt, and one edge of the block will rest on the steamchest. Vhile in this position the block may be rolled around, so as to give a view of the hat upon all sides thereof without change of 8 position on the part of the workman.

H is a lever pivoted under the table, to one arm of which a weight is attached. The other end bears upon the lower end of shaft or rod E, and acts to assist the workman in raising the block. This weight may of course be adjusted so that very slight pressure on the treadle will carry the block to its elevated position.

I do not desire to limit myself to the exact details of construction shown, as it is evident that they may be varied without departing from the spirit of m invention-as, for instance, any suitable cevice may be used for raising and lowering the standard.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The standard connected to the shaft by a universal joint, in combination with means, substantially as described, for raising the same.

2. The standard and universal joint, in combination with the treadle and connecting mech- 5 anism, for the purpose set forth.

3; The standard, block,and universal joint, in combination with shaft, link, and treadle.

4-. The standard and shaft, in combination with the treadle and weighted lever, for the IO purpose set forth.

5. The standard, block, and steam-cl1est, in combination with mechanism for raising and lowering the standard, and a universal joint to permit its movement in any direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in I 5 presence of two witnesses A MARTIN H. RYDER.

Witnesses:

J AMES WALLACE, A. M. Woosrnn. 

